Removable interior for burial cases



June 23, 1936. Q BQWLER' JR 2,044,967

REMOVABLE INTERIOR FOR BURIAL CASES 1 Filed March '7', 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l [RA/597650 WLER, JR.

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June 23, 1936. Q BQWLER' JR 2,044,967

REMOVABLE INTERIOR FOR BURIAL CASES Filed March 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ERNEST (IBM/45R, 1/

' or/leg June 23, 1936.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. C. BOWLER, JR

REMOVABLE INTERIOR FOR BURIAL CASES Filed March 7, 1955 xww 772 2/6/2501": Kim/97650 WLE fli [721.

June 23, 1936.

E. C. BOWLER, JR

REMOVABLE INTERIOR FOR BURIAL CASES Filed March 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .4650 nay Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOVABLE INTERIOR FOR BURIAL CASES Application March 7, 1935, Serial No. 9,735

10 Claims.

In the merchandising of burial cases it is customary to ofier the purchaser a selection of linings. These linings are of delicate and expensive fabric and vary considerably in quality, tailoring,

5 coloring and effect. On account 01' their nature they are easily soiled and soon become shopworn if handled often.

The usual practice is to tack the lining within the case. This not only requires the services of 10 skilled workmen in order to attain the desired draped, shirred, or other artistic effect but is a slow and painstaking operation often requiring the driving of as many as two hundred tacks through the delicate lining fabric. These tacks 15 must afterwards be withdrawn'if a different lining is substituted as often happens, due to the desire of the prospective purchaser, to see how a particular lining will look when actually applied to the case which may have been selected.

The problem of a readily attachable and detachable lining means for burial cases is further complicated by the wide variety of styles and shapes of cases now considered standard in the trade. These range from relatively simple to is relatively complicated structures often involving half couch and full couch efiects and multi-sided ends and head and foot portions.

As a result of these and other factors, there has long existed a demand for, a lining means which would permit ready attachment and detachment of a selected interior. In the effort to supply this demand it has been proposed to sew snap fasteners onto the lining and to aflix to the burial case complemental snap fasteners by 35 means of which the lining could be removably mounted therein. There are many practical objections to this expedient. One objection is that such a method of attachment is of extremely limited application and does not afford that uni- 49 versality of use so necessary in dealing with the great variety of difl'erent styles and arrangements of burial cases now considered standard. Another objection is the very practical one of so spacing and arranging the complemental fasten- 45ers on the lining and burial case, respectively, as to enable them to be fastened together and at the same time to obtain the proper drapery effects for the different linings and different types of burial cases which are to be lined.

In devisingmy present invention I have endeavored to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable lining means which will be applicable to any and all types and styles of burial cases and which will accomplish the desired objects and ad- 55 vantages while at the same time avoiding the objections which characterized the expedients heretofore attempted in this art.

In carrying out my invention I provide a relatively stiff marginal or frame element which is equipped with means for firmly and detachably securing the lining element thereto in the desired arrangement and draping effect and further equip this frame or hanger element with means adapted for quick detachable connection with complemental means on the case or shell whereby the frame element and its attached lining may be conveniently attached to and detached from the burial case as a unit.

The frame element may be variously constructed according to the particular burial case and case part or parts to be lined. It may be a simple strip or runner where the part to be lined is a hingal rail, or the foot portions of the case. Or it may comprise a series of connected strips which together form a light but relatively rigid frame where the part to be lined is the hinged lid or cover of the case. Or for lining the lid or cover the strip or strips may be assembled witha backing element in the nature of a light but relatively flexible or conformable sheet of any suitable material as cardboard or other composition board in which event the framing strip or strips constitute both a border reinforcement for the backing element as well as the means by which the backing element, the framing strip or strips, and the lining carried by said strip or strips are detachably mounted as a unit within the lid or cover.

As illustrative of the principles of my invention I show in the accompanying drawings a burial case of conventional type equipped with lining means in accordance with my invention. The type of casket selected for illustration is a casket of the half couch type having a hinged cover, a o hinged front rail and a hinged head rail. I have deliberately selected a case of this type for purposes of illustration because it probably presents as difficult a lining problem as could possibly be offered.

It is to be, understood, however. that this showing is purely illustrative and in no way limiting, as my invention is universal in its application and may be used with any and all types of burial cases. Similarly with the several forms of lining means, these are intended only as suggestive of the many possibilities of my invention and as indicating the wide range. of variants which may be used to obtain the desired lining effects in all of the many and varied styles and types of burial cases to which my invention is applicable.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is ageneral elevation of a burial case of the half couch type with hinged cover and hinged front and head rails, said cover and rails being opened but as yet unlined.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lining unit, consisting of framing element and attached lining, in readiness to be detachably mounted within the cover of the burial case.

Fig. 3 shows the framing element of Fig. 2 before the interior or lining fabric is attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a burial case rail with interior drape detachably mounted thereon.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a short section of framing element useful as a lining-attaching means for a rail or foot portion of the burial case.

Fig. v6 is a perspective detail illustrating the interengagement between a portion of a frame strip and an adjacent rail edge.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross section through the same, engaged.

Fig. 8'is a perspective view of an interior frame especially adapted for attaching a lining interior within a concaved lid or cover such as illustrated in the burial case of half couch type shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the cover and burial case of Fig. 1, after lining, and particularly showing the method of detachably mounting the linings upon the parts to be lined.

Fig. 10 is a partial longitudinal section through the head end of such burial case.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective showing one form of frame strip.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of the same showing the fabric gripped in place.

Fig. 13 is a sectional detail of the same particularly illustrating the method of forming the attaching studs by means of which the framing strip is detachably mounted on the burial case part.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective showing another form of framing strip.

Fig. 15 is a face view of a framing element embodying a backing member and particularly intended for use with a burial case cover or lid of concaved type.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section through the framing element of Fig. 15 and showing a lining attached thereto, the unit consisting of framing element, backing member and attached lining being in readiness to be detachably mounted within the hinged cover of the case.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail illustrating the engagement of the unit shown in Fig. 16 with one of the complemental fastening members of the case cover.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a display of difierent lining-units consisting of framing elements and attached linings in readiness for detachable mounting within burial case covers or lids, and

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing a display of different lining units consisting of framing elements and attached linings in readiness for detachably mounting upon burial case rails or the like.

I have indicated at 20 the bottom wall of a burial case of the half couch type and at 2| and 22 the front and rear side walls thereof. The sliding half top of the case is indicated at 23 and the lid or cover at 24, said cover being carried by a rear rail 25 which is hinged as at 26 to the upper edge of the rear wall of the case.

In the type of case shown in these drawings,

the cover is of such cross section as to afford a slight interior concavity 21 (see Fig. 9) although my invention is not restricted to such covers. Similarly, in the type of case illustrated, the front rail 28 is hinged as at 29 to the upper edge of the front wall of the case and the head rail 30 (Figs. 1 and 10) is hinged as at 3! to the upper edge of the head end wall of the case.

The hinged front rail 28 and the hinged head rail 30 are opened outwardly and the hinged cover 24 is opened upwardly during display, the cover being held in erect position by any suitable means, as straps or the like (not shown). Both of the rails 28 and 30 and the cover and its rail 25 are lined with the interior lining fabrics ultimately selected, and the foot portions of the casket may also be separately lined if desired.

Usually the cover lining 32 is a unit in itself and the lining 33 for the rails 28 and 30 is a separate unit. If a foot lining is used this is also a separate unit. All lining units are separately draped and detachably mounted within the case.

Considering first the cover lining 32. In accordance with my invention I provide a frame unit Figs. 2, 3, 8 or 15 adapted to detachably carry such lining in properly draped effect, and said 0 frame unit with the attached lining pre-draped thereon is adapted to be detachably fastened within the cover as shown in Figs. 9 and 17 The frame unit may consist of one or more marginal stiifening elements, as the frame strips 34 shown in these drawings. These detachably retaining the lining thereon. As here shown, the strips 34 are provided with spaced prongs 34' at one longitudinal edge thereof with which the lining is adapted to be engaged. Obviously, however, the strips may be provided with any suitable lining retaining means. Preferably although not necessarily these prongs are barbed as indicated at 35 (Fig. 14) to more reliably engage and retain the attached fabric. 4

The strip or strips are also provided at suitable intervals with fastening means adapted to engage complemental fastening means carried by the case cover whereby to detachably fasten the strip or strips and attached lining within the cover. As here shown the fastening means carried by the strip or strips and the cover are in the nature of interengageable stud and spring socket members.

The fastening elements carried by the strip or strips are preferably male fasteners and those carried by the cover are preferably female fasteners although this arrangement may be reversed if desired.

The male fasteners if carried by the strip or 60 strips may take the form of studs 36' struck from the body of the strip and extending at substantially right angles thereto, Figs. l3, l4, and 15 or such male fasteners may be separately formed studs 36 which are afterwards fastened to the strip in a permanent manner as by 'means of'the nuts 31 (Figs. 6 and '7). If the cover is provided with female fasteners, these may be simple holes or sockets formed in the cover at intervals corresponding to the spacement of the male fasteners on the strips or they may be special socket members 38 set in suitable recesses formed in-the cover in which case the socket fasteners preferably include a yieldable spring aoupev 1 element 39 adapted to yieldingly engage and retain the inserted stud. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

Although the cover lining may be attached to the cover by means of a plurality of independent strips I find it preferable in practice to connect such strips to each other in the form of a light and rigid frame corresponding generally to the interior dimensions of the cover as for example that shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8. This is particularly desirable where the cover is of the somewhat concaved cross section shown in these drawings. In such case the frame unit includes a pair of spaced end strips 4|! and 4| (Fig. 3) and a top strip 42 connecting the same. If desired a bottom strip 43 and an intermediate strip 44 may be used. If the contour of the cover is such as to require it the bottom and intermediate strips 43' and 44' may be bent at their ends as indicated at 45 (Fig. 8), strips 4i and 42' being substantially the same as the corresponding members in Fig. 3.

Although the use of the frame strips either individually or as a connected framing unit is sufficient I may where desired employ a backing member 46 (Figs. 15, 16, and 1'7) to which the frame strips are attached in a permanent manner as by riveting them to the same as a reinforcing border. This backing element corresponds generally to the interior contour of the cover (see Fig. 16). It may be made of any suitable material and is preferably made of a relatively thin and lightweight board as cardboard or composition board.

Where such a backing member is used the frame strips are attached to the inner face of the backing member and have their teeth or prongs bent at a slight angle thereto so as to enable the fabric of the lining to be attached to such teeth and carried around the edge of the backing element and across and over the outer face thereof, which outer face is the face presented to view when the framing unit is mounted with the case cover (see Fig. 17). The fastening studs 36" project inwardly through the attached lining fabric and beyond the teeth or prongs for a distance sufficient to enable said studs to be engaged in the socket fasteners of the case-cover.

Although the pronged or toothed form of strip shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 14, either with or without the barbs 35 of Fig. 14, is desirable on account of its simplicity I do not limit myself to the use of prongs or teeth as such nor do I limit myself to the use of such prongs or teeth at the longitudinal edge of the frame strip. Instead and as shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, the frame strip may be a folded strip the webs 46 and of which are normally partly opened and the fabric engaging means may take the form of inwardly bent prongs 41 struck from one of such webs. These prongs 41 retain the lining fabric which is inserted between the webs of the strip, the webs being afterwards closed down on each other (see Fig. 12) in any suitable manner as by hammering or compressing the same to cause the prongs 41 to firmly grip and retain the inserted fabric.

For mounting the front and/or head rail lining 33 detachably in place on the hinged front rail 28 and/or the hinged head rail 3I,'I may use separate strips for each rail and rail section preferably applied to the outer edge of the rail or rails. In most caskets this outer edge is a bevelled edge as best shown in Figs. 4 and 9. The strip-may, however, be applied to the top a single bent strip, a plurality of unconnected 5 strips, or a plurality of connected strips which together form an open frame member and even where such strips are themselves attached to a backing element, the strips with or without the backing element constitute a convenient bar or 10 hanger on which the selectedlining element or elements may be first pre-draped in the desired manner and effect and thereafter carried to the burial case and detachably fastened as a unit to that part of the case which is to be lined, as 15 the hinged rail or rails, the hinged lid, or the foot portion.

In other words. the selected lining is draped in the desired manner and completely assembled on the frame strip or strips before the lining unit 20 consisting of frame element and lining is detachably mounted as a unit within the burial case. Inasmuch as the frame strip or strips and attached lining are thus assembled as a unit, such lining may be conveniently attached and de- 25 tached from the case with the minimum of trouble and inconvenience and with the minimum of likelihood of injury to the delicate fabric of the lining.

My invention also enables a wide range of 39 different linings to be mounted and displayed prior to embodiment in the burial case itself, the framing elements holding the linings in shape and enabling them to bereadily handled. This is illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 wherein a plu- 35 rality of different lid linings 32 (Fig. 18) and a plurality of different rail linings are thus displayed.

With either type of lining, the linings themselves are predraped upon their framing elements. If a lid lining, such framing element is any of the frames shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8 or 15. If a rail lining such framing element is any of the strips shown in Figs. 5, 11, or 14.

These framing elements of whatever type with their attached lining fabrics 32 or 33, are suspended in a detachable manner from hangers 48 which in turn are removably suspended from any suitable support as the rod 49. Thus the frame elements have the double function of display 50 mounts which enable the several styles, colors, and kinds of lining materials to be effectively displayed apart from the burial case as well as of fastening mounts which enable them to be detachably positioned within the case when desired.

Various other modifications in methods and structures may obviously be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by 60 Letters Patent is:-

1. Lining means for a burial case, comprising an elongated frame element, a lining element, means on the frameelement for detachably fastening the lining element to said frame element, and means on said frame element for cooperation with the complemental means on the case for detachably fastening the frame element and its attached lining as a unit to the case.

2. Lining means for a burial case, comprising a frame element, a lining element, prongs on said frame element for detachably fastening the lining element to said frame element, and means on said frame element for cooperation with complemental means on the case for detachably fastening the frame element and its attached lining as a unit to the case.

3. Lining means for a burial case, comprising a frame including a plurality of spaced connected strips, 9, lining element, at least one of said strips having prongs for detachably fastening the lining element to said frame, and means on certain of said strips for cooperation with complemental means on the case for detachably fastening said and attached lining as a unit to the case.

5. Lining means for a burial case, comprising a backing element corresponding generally in outline to the part of the case which is to be lined, a plurality of interconnected frame strips attached to said backing element and themselves forming a border frame for said backing element, a lining element covering the 'outer face of said backing element, at least one of said strips having means for detachably fastening the lining element thereto, and at least one of said strips having means adapted for cooperation with complemental means on the case for detachably fastening said backing element, strips and attached lining as a unit to the case.

6. Lining means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the frame strip is provided with prongs for detachably fastening the lining thereon.

7. Lining means for a burial case, comprising an elongated frame element and a lining element, said frame element having separated folds one of which is provided with means adapted to engage the lining when inserted between the folds and the folds are compressed together, and means on said frame element for cooperation with complemental means on the case for detachably fastening the frame element and its attached lining as a unit to the case.

8. Lining means as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means on the frame element for detachably fastening the same within the burial case comprises at least one stud extending outwardly from one of said folds.

9. Lining means for a burial case, comprising a fabricated lining element, a framing element having a lining-engaging edge adapted for substantially continuous engagement along one edge of the lining element whereby the lining element is suspended as a free drape from its said engaged edge, and means on said frame element for cooperation with complemental means on the case for detachably fastening the framing element and its attached lining as a unit to the case.

10. In a burial case having a hinged cover and a hinged rail, each provided with fastening elements, quick-detachable lining units for said case parts, each unit comprising a framing element and a lining element carried by said framing element, each framing element having an elongated lining-engaging edge adapted for engagement substantially continuously along one edge of a lining whereby the lining is suspended as a free drape from its said engaged edge, each framing element also having fastening elements which when inter-engaged with their cooperating fastening elements on the case part position the lining units upon the case parts with the free edges of the linings disposed in complementary relationship to each other interiorly of the case.

ERNEST C. BOWLER, JR. 

